LB will not let be select preferred NeoGeo core, any way to fix?

[DaveC1964]

I imported .NEO games for use with the Geolith Neo Geo core.  It works fine in retroarch manually but LB will not let me select it for the emulator core.  It is not in the list or in the downloaded core list.  Is this a bug or am I missing something? Is there a way to force the core even though it does not recognize it for some reason?

[x4ml]

9 hours ago, DaveC1964 said:

I imported .NEO games for use with the Geolith Neo Geo core.  It works fine in retroarch manually but LB will not let me select it for the emulator core.  It is not in the list or in the downloaded core list.  Is this a bug or am I missing something? Is there a way to force the core even though it does not recognize it for some reason?

Not something you’re missing: our core list doesn’t include Geolith yet, so it can’t be picked, and the "Downloaded cores" list only shows cores LaunchBox downloaded itself, not ones installed through RetroArch’s Online Updater. For now you can either run Manage Emulators → Update RetroArch and then pick Geolith under "Add downloaded core", or set up the platform with "Custom emulator with code" and point LIBRETRO at geolith_libretro_android.so

[DaveC1964]

7 hours ago, x4ml said:

Not something you’re missing: our core list doesn’t include Geolith yet, so it can’t be picked, and the "Downloaded cores" list only shows cores LaunchBox downloaded itself, not ones installed through RetroArch’s Online Updater. For now you can either run Manage Emulators → Update RetroArch and then pick Geolith under "Add downloaded core", or set up the platform with "Custom emulator with code" and point LIBRETRO at geolith_libretro_android.so

Under manage emulators all I have is "download and install retroarch".  Nothing about update.  

Where is "set up the platform with "Custom emulator with code" at?  I don't see this anywhere.

Is there a list file somewhere where I can edit and add the emulator to the list?

Edited October 13 by DaveC1964

[x4ml]

Sorry, my earlier answer wasn’t quite right for your setup. "Update RetroArch" only shows up if you’re using the RetroArch build that LaunchBox installs itself. Since you see "Download and Install", you’re on a different RetroArch (probably RetroArch Plus from the Play Store), so skip that option. Installing it would just give you a second, separate copy of RetroArch.

To use Geolith now:

1. Make sure Geolith is installed in your RetroArch (Online Updater → Core Downloader).
2. In LaunchBox, long-press your Neo Geo platform → Emulator Settings → Default Emulator → choose Custom Emulator (With Code).
3. Tap Custom Emulator Launch Arguments and paste:

-n com.retroarch.aarch64/com.retroarch.browser.retroactivity.RetroActivityFuture
-e ROM {file.path}
-e LIBRETRO /data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/cores/geolith_libretro_android.so
-e CONFIGFILE /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch.aarch64/files/retroarch.cfg

 

If you’re on regular RetroArch instead of RetroArch Plus, replace com.retroarch.aarch64 with com.retroarch in all three places.

[DaveC1964]

9 hours ago, x4ml said:

Sorry, my earlier answer wasn’t quite right for your setup. "Update RetroArch" only shows up if you’re using the RetroArch build that LaunchBox installs itself. Since you see "Download and Install", you’re on a different RetroArch (probably RetroArch Plus from the Play Store), so skip that option. Installing it would just give you a second, separate copy of RetroArch.

To use Geolith now:

1. Make sure Geolith is installed in your RetroArch (Online Updater → Core Downloader).
2. In LaunchBox, long-press your Neo Geo platform → Emulator Settings → Default Emulator → choose Custom Emulator (With Code).
3. Tap Custom Emulator Launch Arguments and paste:

-n com.retroarch.aarch64/com.retroarch.browser.retroactivity.RetroActivityFuture
-e ROM {file.path}
-e LIBRETRO /data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/cores/geolith_libretro_android.so
-e CONFIGFILE /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch.aarch64/files/retroarch.cfg

 

If you’re on regular RetroArch instead of RetroArch Plus, replace com.retroarch.aarch64 with com.retroarch in all three places.

I still can't get it to work. I am sure I am doing something wrong but not sure what.  When I select a game it just goes to black screen and RA locks up with me needing to force close.  I can run it in RA manually (select core, select content) so I know it is set up correctly with BIOS etc.

For the -e ROM file.path am I supposed to put the path there? I didn't put it there because you didn't say to, I don't know XML programming.

I am using Retroarch that I side loaded (RetroArch_1.16.0), not play store, I avoid it when possible.  I know this version is not the latest.  I am not sure if I should upgrade but I don't want to lose settings and have to redo everything, RA is a real pain to set up. 

 

Edited October 15 by DaveC1964

[x4ml]

On 10/15/2026 at 5:47 AM, DaveC1964 said:

I still can't get it to work. I am sure I am doing something wrong but not sure what.  When I select a game it just goes to black screen and RA locks up with me needing to force close.  I can run it in RA manually (select core, select content) so I know it is set up correctly with BIOS etc.

For the -e ROM file.path am I supposed to put the path there? I didn't put it there because you didn't say to, I don't know XML programming.

I am using Retroarch that I side loaded (RetroArch_1.16.0), not play store, I avoid it when possible.  I know this version is not the latest.  I am not sure if I should upgrade but I don't want to lose settings and have to redo everything, RA is a real pain to set up. 

 

You’re close. A few things:

{file.path}: leave it exactly as written. It isn’t something you fill in. LaunchBox replaces it with the game’s file path when you launch.

Black screen and RetroArch freezing: the arguments I gave earlier were missing a few lines that LaunchBox normally sends to RetroArch. The most important ones are --activity-clear-task and --activity-clear-top. Without them, if RetroArch is already open in the background (for example after you tested it manually), it tries to reuse that session and gets stuck on a black screen. Force close RetroArch, then replace your launch arguments with this:

-n com.retroarch.aarch64/com.retroarch.browser.retroactivity.RetroActivityFuture
-e ROM {file.path}
-e LIBRETRO /data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/cores/geolith_libretro_android.so
-e CONFIGFILE /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch.aarch64/files/retroarch.cfg
-e IME com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME
-e DATADIR /data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64
-e SDCARD /storage/emulated/0
-e EXTERNAL /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch.aarch64/files
--activity-clear-task
--activity-clear-top

 

Check the package name. Sideloaded builds from retroarch.com use different names. The 64-bit build is com.retroarch.aarch64, the regular build is com.retroarch, and the 32-bit build is com.retroarch.ra32. To see which one you have, open RetroArch → Settings → Directory → Config. The path shown there includes the package name. If it isn’t com.retroarch.aarch64, replace it everywhere in the arguments above. While you’re in that menu, check that the Cores directory matches the LIBRETRO path.

[DaveC1964]

14 hours ago, x4ml said:

You’re close. A few things:

{file.path}: leave it exactly as written. It isn’t something you fill in. LaunchBox replaces it with the game’s file path when you launch.

Black screen and RetroArch freezing: the arguments I gave earlier were missing a few lines that LaunchBox normally sends to RetroArch. The most important ones are --activity-clear-task and --activity-clear-top. Without them, if RetroArch is already open in the background (for example after you tested it manually), it tries to reuse that session and gets stuck on a black screen. Force close RetroArch, then replace your launch arguments with this:

 

 

Check the package name. Sideloaded builds from retroarch.com use different names. The 64-bit build is com.retroarch.aarch64, the regular build is com.retroarch, and the 32-bit build is com.retroarch.ra32. To see which one you have, open RetroArch → Settings → Directory → Config. The path shown there includes the package name. If it isn’t com.retroarch.aarch64, replace it everywhere in the arguments above. While you’re in that menu, check that the Cores directory matches the LIBRETRO path.

Still doesn't work.  When I tried before I closed Retroarch before trying the new code, that wasn't it.  After exiting I swiped up and did a "close all".  Tried this new code and still black screen and freeze.  I made sure retroarch matched.  I am not sure what this is but I am not using Latin language:

com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME

I am at a loss.

Edited Monday at 05:47 AM by DaveC1964

[NNEMO]

you got the standalone retroarch.exe and cores downloaded. 

You already added your SNK Neo Geo platform, and set your Rom folder path.

You already added a emulator retroarch, and have it pointed at the standalone retroarch.exe

1. Close all the programs

2. Open launchbox Tools\Manage\Emulator\Retroarch in associated platforms, go to your Neo Geo, use the dropdown to select the core goliath.

Note: It pops up for me on latest LB 14.0

3. Save, press OK.

Note: Close LB, reopen it and you should see the dropdown goliath core STILL selected. Exit and reopen LB a few times to make sure it is saved. The missing dropdown issue happened to me with a PS1 core.

If you are having issues with a blackscreen, the issue is you usually need to put the bios for that platform inside the "RetroArch\system" folder. Neo geo CD requires bios files.